A group of 36 transit passengers who had been stranded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) since Saturday have now been moved to a hotel following a standoff that led to a multi-agency intervention.
The passengers had refused to be flown back to Lagos, Nigeria.
The staff from Kenya Airways (KQ) notified authorities that the passengers arrived in Nairobi aboard a flight from Lagos on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
The 36 passengers — comprising 31 Nigerians and four Ghanaians — were scheduled to connect to Dubai.
However, their onward flight was cancelled due to the current situation in the Middle East, disrupting travel plans.
Since their arrival, the group had been accommodated at the Pride Lounge within JKIA. The prolonged stay at the lounge reportedly became increasingly difficult for the airline to manage.
Efforts by the airline to persuade the passengers to either return to Lagos or relocate to a hotel were initially unsuccessful, prompting KQ to convene a multi-agency meeting to resolve the matter.
The team included police who told the group to comply with their directives.
Following deliberations, it was agreed that the passengers would be transferred to a hotel at their own cost, while Kenya Airways would provide one meal per day to support them during their extended stay.
All 36 passengers consented to the arrangement and were subsequently escorted to the hotel, bringing to an end several days of uncertainty at the airport.
Meanwhile, Kenya Airways (KQ) will operate special repatriation flights between Nairobi and Dubai this week following limited approvals by authorities in the United Arab Emirates.
The airline said it will operate a Nairobi–Dubai flight on March 4, 2026, and a Dubai–Nairobi flight on March 5, 2026, after receiving slot approvals from Dubai Airport Management.
The development comes after UAE authorities allowed a limited resumption of operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) beginning March 2, strictly for repatriation purposes.
KQ emphasized that the services are not regular scheduled flights, but special operations intended to facilitate travel for customers who are citizens or residents of the UAE seeking to travel between Nairobi and Dubai.
The airline urged customers in Dubai not to proceed to DXB until they receive confirmed departure dates and times.
Affected passengers have been advised to check their flight status on the airline’s website and update their contact information through the “Manage Booking” portal to enable direct communication regarding travel arrangements.
Kenya Airways also confirmed that scheduled operations to Dubai have not yet resumed, noting that the situation remains fluid.
The carrier said it will share further updates and a confirmed schedule once additional approvals are granted by UAE authorities.
The airline apologized for the inconvenience caused, reiterating that the safety of its crew and passengers remains its top priority.
Customers requiring assistance have been directed to contact the airline’s Customer Excellence Team via phone, WhatsApp, or its official social media channels.
“Should you need further assistance please contact our Customer Excellence Team at +254 711 024 747, WhatsApp +254 705 474 747, or via X @KQSuport.”
Dubai is one of Kenya Airways’ key Middle East routes, serving both passenger and cargo traffic between East Africa and the Gulf region.
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